Pipe Springs National Monument Curatorial Storage

Rich in Native American, Spanish explorer, Mormon and pioneer history, Pipe Spring was a crossroads of cultures providing a stopping place for water supply. Located in the Kaibab Indian Reservation, the national monument signifies use and competition for resources frequently coloring cultural relations among the various influences throughout the west. With a wide-ranging collection of historical artifacts left behind by the various cultures in the area, the monument is seeking secured curatorial storage.

The curatorial storage addition is designed to house the monuments historical artifacts for preservation and research purposes. While not expected to be open to the public, the storage area provides facilities for researchers and educators. Because of the concern for the use of natural resources at the monument, it follows that the design of the new curatorial storage must incorporate energy efficiency and sustainable elements. The addition is planned using the practical guidelines to achieve a silver-level LEED certification. Modeled to complement existing structures, the new addition incorporates sophisticated environmental controls, security functions, safety systems, communications and data systems, and organizational efficiencies to protect the archive while using a minimum of resources.

The collection facility is divided into five functional areas: office/research, workroom/support, collection storage, building support and exterior spaces. The office and research areas represent the collaboration between the Kaibab Piute Tribe and the National Park Services by providing each with their own administrative curation office. This functional area also includes a conference room/classroom. The curatorial workroom is for processing collections, including photographing and preserving them. The collections management function provides repository space for both the national monument and the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians. The exterior spaces include an outdoor courtyard, a loading dock and service area, and covered artifact storage for larger items.